The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-03
ALMOST A RIOT.
Three Rowdies Take Possession OF
Arkwrlsht's Factory by Force OF
Arms.

Inree hCWdlGS rake BOESeS6lOu Ol
Arkwrlsht's Factory by Force Of
Arms.
The neighborhood in which Arkwrights
cotton mills are located has been exceeding
ly lively for some days past. In fact, a riot
has been expected daily, and one was mar
rowly escaped on Monday last, About
year ago Mr.. Lyons came here from Phil
adelphia TO take charge OF the mills as super
intendent, and ever since his arrival he
has been annoyed and constantly threat
ened by a gang of roughS who rule
in that locality. They are led by three
men named O'Bannon, Bostick and War
rem, who are VIGOROUSLY bad characters.
Mr. Lyons has never complained of his bad
treatment and had made no report of il to
the police until Monday, because he feared
that If he should make any move toward
having the desperadoes arrested they would
kill him. They threatened to take his life
within few days after he reached here for
no other reason than that he was
superintendent of the mills, and
they have kept up their prosecutions
ever since. Mr.. Lyons has not left his
house at night, not because he was afraid
of them, but because his wife became so
frightened when he was out after dark that
he could not leave her alone.
He says that these men have threatened
to kill him not once or dozen times, but
every time they have met him He had no
trouble with them in the beginning and he
cannot account for their murderous designs
upon his life. Once they entered his Office
with their hands upon their pistols, but he
had revolver handy and ''got
the drop on them. He ordered
them out of the room and as they
did not like the looks Of his pistol they
obeyed They have been guilty of innumer-
able lawless acts, which eliminated on Mon
day. The men entered the rooms of the
factory with knives and pistols drawn, and
drove every one out of the building They
then proceeded to do all the willful damage
the looms, and poured water, upon
which become useless if they ever
get wet New parts must be received from
Philadelphia before thesC machines can be
used again, The rowdies had bucket of
wine with them and they scattered it over
the floor. They drove their knives through
everything that they could destroy The
neighborhcod was in ferment,
and for while an uprising
against the desperadoes was imminent,
but the roughs retreated and excitement
died down.
The case was then reported to the police
yesterday and O'Bannon was arrested on
charge of drunkenness and disorderly con-
duct. He was taken before the Mayor
yesterday morning and fined. All day
Tuesday a policeman was on duty at the
mills and the rioters kept out of the way.
Yesterday they made no demonstration.
These same fellows took the former super
intendent out of the building, put rope
around his neck and led him down to the
canal They vowed they were going to
duck him, but some people who were pass
ing at the time interfered and saved him.
Mr.. Lyons said that his year will be out
next month and he will return to Phladel-
phia. He said he would not go through
what be has had to bear during the past
year for the whole mill In the meantime,
however, he is taking steps to have the Of
Tenders arrested and prosecuted.